Don¡¯t Eat Friends was founded by Xie Zheng who also goes by the name ¡°Shay¡± and is active in the Beijing music scene. His official title within Don¡¯t Eat Friends is ¡°Vegan Initiative Founder.¡±

As a vegan Shay doesn¡¯t eat animal meat of any kind, nor does he use or exploit animals for any reason whatsoever, whether for clothing or other materials which most people take for granted throughout their daily lives. To be a vegan means one must follow a strict code that involves not using animals for anything at all. It¡¯s a way of life all the members of Don¡¯t Eat Friends adhere to which stems from their deep love for all creatures great and small.

During the event Shay sang while accompanied by a guitarist. In between songs he enlightened those in attendance about how they can make a difference when it comes to saving animals.

On a local level one of the things his group focuses on is the adoption of stray animals in Beijing. Shay has provided many homeless animals with shelter and it¡¯s something he is very passionate about. Altogether Shay and his friends have rescued 200 cats and dogs. Right now Shay lives happily with more than 30 cats and 6 dogs all of whom he considers to be his friends.

The group also promotes a variety of things in a non-governmental and secular way which makes them stand out from other animal rights groups. They are also active in working with other like-minded groups as well.

Megan Yu, the Education Coordinator for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was in attendance. She gave a speech and said, ¡°From the outset IFAW embraced the understanding that the fate and future of all animals on Earth are inextricably linked to our own. Our mission has remained constant and simple: to create a better world for animals.¡±

After the event Shay participated in an exclusive interview with CRI and elaborated further about his group its plans for the future.

Don¡¯t Eat Friends was founded by Xie Zheng who also goes by the name ¡°Shay¡± and is active in the Beijing music scene. His official title within Don¡¯t Eat Friends is ¡°Vegan Initiative Founder.¡± [Photo:blog.sina.com.cn/biechipengyou]

Interview:

Shay: ¡°We started this organization in 2006. I think my life should not only be about myself, but also to help my friends, which are animals, because they need our help to survive in this world.¡±

¡°I truly believe that animals are our friends, and I don¡¯t want to eat them, and of course I don¡¯t want anybody to eat them. It¡¯s quite simple.¡±

¡°We held about 50 events in 2010, one of them was called ¡°Rescue Tigers, Rescue Our Conscience.¡± After the event, our government actually heard our voice and enacted a law to prohibiting tiger performances, and that made me very happy indeed.¡±

¡°In 2011, we plan to hold more benefit concerts on the campuses of Chinese universities. College students are full of passion and they all have compassion for nonhuman animals.¡±

¡°My name is Zhou Tongtong, I¡¯m a member of ¡°Don¡¯t Eat Friends.¡± You can join our organization as long as you care for animals and want to give them a warm and comfortable life.¡±

Don¡¯t Eat Friends isn¡¯t the only group in China raising awareness for animal rights. Other groups have been sprouting up all across China. In order for such groups to grow, staging events like this one will only lead to bigger events in the future. Until then, Don¡¯t Eat Friends will continue to inspire those who truly care about animals, and they¡¯ll do so for now anyway right here in China.

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